Colorado neighbor foils home burglary, makes thieves strip

DENVER, CO (KTRK) -- A family in Denver, Colorado, have their dog walker and neighbors to thank for foiling thieves' plans -- with an embarrassing spin -- while they were on vacation.

KDVR reports Dave and Christy Gannon's dog walker came in to their home while it was being burglarized by two men last week. When the 13-year-old saw the family's belongings near the front door in backpacks, she ran to the neighbors' house and called police.

The burglars, knowing they'd been found out, grabbed what they could and jumped the back fence.

But that's not the end of the story.

The Gannons' neighbor was waiting for them -- with a firearm.

"I had a gun and I told them to get down on their hands and knees," Michael Velez, who lives behind the Gannons, told KDVR.

Velez said he wanted to teach the two young burglars a lesson so he made them strip down to their underwear and walked them at gunpoint to the corner.

But before police could arrive, they took off running and jumped into a car with no license plates. Velez didn't shoot. He said, "They were young kids and I told them, 'You're lucky you're going to see your next birthday.'"

The Gannons tell KDVR they're grateful to have good neighbors.

"Thank you, I appreciate it so much," Christy Gannon said during a meeting with Velez on Tuesday. "Can I give you a hug?" null